© Carole Kanchier, PhD
TURN JOB LOSS INTO OPPORTUNITY
Two former clients, both managers, were laid off with three month’s severance pay. Though both had comparable skills, each approached job search differently, and the outcome of their searches reflects these differences.
The initial approach of the first client was to make a brief appearance at professional meetings, tell others about his search, get leads, then leave. He followed up on leads, but after a flurry of interviews, the phone stopped ringing.
Next, he sent resumes and letters out in response to want ads. Often, the jobs were diverse and geographically widespread. When he got no responses, he became depressed. He avoided friends and watched television endlessly.
The second client, on the other hand, targeted her search. She read professional literature and maintained a wide network of contacts in her professional and related fields. She attended professional meetings regularly and gained visibility by volunteering for special events. She discussed job-hunting strategies with senior colleagues to help refine employment goals and obtain referrals.
With the help of a counselor, the secondconverted her feelings of anger, frustration and loss into positive energy – and action. She began to see her job loss as an opportunity to move in new directions. She learned how to clarify her mission, needs, interests, skills/strengths and goals. Bonnie also took a skill-building evening course and participated in enjoyable leisure activities.
Bonnie developed strategies to ease the stress of unemployment. Regular exercising, listening to music, relaxing in a hot tub, and meditatinghelped minimize stress. Bonnie landed a challenging new position within three months.
Meanwhile, James was stuck in a self-defeating rut. He spent less time job-hunting and more time moaning. Eventually he got a job with the help of a friend, but it wasn’t one he wanted or for which he felt suited. It took James nine months longer than Bonnie to find a position.
The differences between the approaches of Bonnie and James can be summarized:
— Maintain confidence and optimism. Job loss is a blow to one’s ego, but Bonnie took active measures to deal with her ebbing confidence by seeking information and support from mentors, counselors, colleagues and friends. James was immobilized. He withdrew and failed to use friends for help until he was desperate. Without a job, James lacked a sense of identity. Bonnie’s activities provided support and relieved stress which kept her feeling good about herself.
Bonnie maintained optimism by reinforcing the positive in herself. She expected success, and paid particular attention to her “self-talk” replacing negative thoughts with more positive ones.
— Develop a sense of control. While both hit the ground running, James never felt in control of the search, and his efforts tapered off quickly. He felt power rested with employers, not him. Bonnie had more positive perceptions. She believed she could cope, and did have control and options.
— Have clear goals. Bonnie knew what she wanted. She identified qualities she wanted met in her ideal position, and took charge of her search. She targeted her market and used resources wisely. James lacked clear employment goals.
— Develop a routine. Bonnie created a homework area and viewed job search as a full-time activity. She kept a log of calls and follow-up actions. She updated her resume using key words listed in job descriptions.
— Use multiple resources. Bonnie used varied strategies to move her job search. She networked with professional colleagues and volunteered for special events continually meeting new contacts. She looked for hidden job leads in newspaper and television stories, made cold calls, and requested and prepared for interviews. James could have used similar resources, but allowed depression to stifle energy needed to motivate himself.
Both James and Bonnie will be more alert in the future about the vulnerability of their positions to economic, technological and political changes. Most likely, both will have contingency plans for future transitions triggered by unanticipated events.
Life is full of transitions. Welcome or not, these changes are inevitable and we must learn how to turn them into opportunities for further growth and revitalization. The Chinese have two characters for the word “crisis.” One means danger; the other opportunity. In each crisis there is a danger of being defeated or the opportunity to grow.
How do you perceive crises? What resources would you draw upon if you were faced with an unwelcome career transition?Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life is currently available at amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963O)
Questers Dare to Change helps readers understand continuing change, and empower themselves to manage uncertainty. It’s based on my ongoing research on career, personal, and spiritual growth.
Case studies of purposeful, growth oriented, Questers, quizzes, and guidelines show readers how to manage lifelong growth. (Take the Quester Quiz: http://www.questersdaretochange.c How can you improve your work situation? What’s next for you?
Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life, by Carole Kanchier, PhD, will help you clarify life career goals, and develop a master plan for moving forward. Get a copy of Questers Dare to Change: https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/15r-Life/dp/08408963
Author Bio: Carole Kanchier, PhD, is an internationally recognized newspaper/digital columnist, registered psychologist, keynote speaker, coach and author of award winning, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life. Kanchier has taught at University of California, Berkeley and Santa Cruz, University of Alberta, and other institutions of higher learning, and worked with varied individual and organizational clients. Dr. Kanchier is known for her pioneering, interdisciplinary approach to human potential.
Carole is available for consultations and interviews,
